By Rose Astley
Over 100 of News Corp’s regional and community print publications will move to digital only including titles Noosa News, Sunshine Coast Daily and the Gympie Times.
In addition, 14 publications will cease to exist amounting to almost 500 jobs lost across Australia.
It comes after talks with Australian Community Media’s Anthony Catalano – who alluded to purchase over 100 of the publishers community and regional newspapers – fell over.
During the wake of COVID-19, News Corp temporarily suspended 60 community print titles, few of these are returning.
The titles which will cease to exist completely include news brands across Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
The following titles will continue as digital publications only:
Queensland: Gympie Times, Noosa News, Sunshine Coast Daily, Mackay Daily Mercury, Rockhampton Morning Bulletin, Gladstone Observer, Bundaberg News Mail, Fraser Coast Chronicle, Queensland Times, Warwick Daily News, Central and North Burnett Times, Central Queensland News, Chinchilla News, Dalby Herald, Gatton Star, South Burnett Times, Stanthorpe Border Post, Western Star, Western Times, Whitsunday Times, Whitsunday Coast Guardian and Bowen Independent, news from the towns covered by the Atherton Tablelander, Northern Miner, Post Douglas & Mossman Gazette and Burdekin Advocate will continue to appear, as it does currently, under the regional sections of the Cairns Post and Townsville Bulletin.
The titles who will cease to exist in Queensland are:
Quest in Queensland: Albert and Logan News, Caboolture Herald, Westside News, Pine Rivers Press, Redcliffe and Bayside Herald, South-West News, Wynnum Herald, North Lakes Times, Redlands Community News, Springfield News.
The Executive Chairman of News Corp Australasia Michael Miller said over the last few months News Corp has undertaken a comprehensive review of its regional and community publications.
“COVID-19 has impacted the sustainability of community and regional publishing. Despite the audiences of News Corp’s digital mastheads growing more than 60 per cent as Australians turned to trusted media sources during the peak of the recent COVID-19 lockdowns, print advertising spending which contributes the majority of our revenues, has accelerated its decline,” Mr Miller said.
“Consequently, to meet these changing trends, we are reshaping News Corp Australia to focus on where consumers and businesses are moving and to strengthen our position as Australia’s leading digital news media company. This will involve employing more digital only journalists and making investments in digital advertising and marketing solutions for our partners.”
The changes are effective of June 29.
